Dry Fork
- 16.6 mi
- round trip
- 487 ft
- climb
- 5,570 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Dry Fork open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.
East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District
Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Lolo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Dry Fork is a 16.6-mile out-and-back hike in the Scapegoat Wilderness, part of the Seeley Lake Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in Montana. The trail rises from about 5,089 feet to about 5,570 feet, a climb of 487 feet one way, and is rated hard. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The trail is open year-round, and the nearest town is Seeley Lake. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lincoln run to highs around 81°F in July and August, with lows in the low 40s. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Hobnail Tom and Old North Fork 3 (Cabin Grade) both start about 0.1 mile away. The Corral Cutoff mountain biking route is about 0.2 mile off. Paddlers can reach the North Fork Blackfoot River about 4.4 miles away.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Dry Fork
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
32° / 12°
9 wet
Feb
35° / 15°
8 wet
Mar
44° / 22°
9 wet
Apr
53° / 27°
9 wet
May
63° / 33°
11 wet
Jun
71° / 40°
12 wet
Jul
81° / 44°
8 wet
Aug
81° / 42°
7 wet
Sep
70° / 35°
7 wet
Oct
54° / 29°
8 wet
Nov
39° / 20°
8 wet
Dec
30° / 13°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lincoln Rs, MT, 20.3 mi away at 4,575 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Old North Fork 3 (Cabin Grade)
Next door
0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 331 ft elevation gain.
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Old North Fork 4
~6 min drive
5.81-mile out-and-back trail on the North Fork with 300 ft gain in Montana.
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Twin Lakes
~9 min drive
4.57-mile out-and-back trail at Twin Lakes, Montana with 226 ft elevation gain.
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Corral Cutoff
Next door
0.88-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 41 ft of elevation gain.
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Cabin Creek
~6 min drive
13.87-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,018 ft gain.
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Canyon Point
~9 min drive
5.10-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,369 ft of elevation gain.
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Old North Fork 2
~1 min drive
1.43-mile out-and-back trail with 40 ft gain in Montana.
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Sarbo Creek
~7 min drive
7.34-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 902 ft elevation gain.
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Windy Pass
~11 min drive
5.80-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,110 ft elevation gain.
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Falls Point Cutacross
~1 min drive
2.18-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 530 ft elevation gain and loss.
